Ariel Rowing Club (1841 - 1881)
Oxford Worcs. (1840's)
Harriet (1840's)
Nil Desperandum (1845 - 1874)
St.George's Rowing Club (1850's)
Intrepid Rowing Club (1850's)
Crusader Rowing Club (1860's)
Worcester Barbourne Rowing Club (1860's)
Sabrina Rowing Club (1873 - 4)
Leander Rowing club (1873)
Argonaut Rowing Club (1873)
Vigornian Rowing Club (1873)
Malvern college Rowing Club (1873 - 1875)

Gradually however, this antiquated class conscious system, which was universal throughout most sports at the time, was eradicated, most of the Clubs disappeared and the two or three remaining combined to form the present Worcester Rowing Club.

Records show that organised rowing races occured at Worcester some 210 years ago. Only the sport of horse racing can boast to having been in existence in the City for a longer time. Idyllically situated on one of the best stretches of rowing water in the country and alongside the open expanse of common land, known as Pitchcroft, which is the home of Worcester Racecourse. Four major rowing events in the national calendar take place each year on the Severn at Worcester. Two Heads of the River Races, the popular Veteran and Junior Regatta, as well as the main City Regatta. Right up until the early part of the century the regatta attracted huge crowds of citizens, for it included all manner of other events.

The sportsmanship and chivalry of the present day regattas was not always evident however and betting was rife - for this was the heyday of the professional gambler and the rewards were worth a spot of corruption. Accounts of the earlier regattas indeed make interesting reading. - A Club President sculled himself to a standstill only to lose to find that a board had been nailed to the bottom of his boat: coxswains were ditched overboard if crews looked like losing, in order to lighten the boat: oars were hidden and inferior ones substituted, indeed, after one such incident and many letters of accusation and counter accusation to the local press, the Editor himself remarked that a more thorough piece of blackguardism and blacklogism never was perpetrated -not even upon the turf!

Worcester Rowing Club have for many years been one of the foremost clubs in the country. Their active membership ranges from 12 year olds to the over 70's. In fact, they have particularly strong veteran and junior sections and have gained the coveted award of the Rowing Foundation for the most successful club in the promotion of junior rowing. They also have a strong "recreational rowing" section, for persons who do not wish to row competitively but only to keep fit or for the fun of it.

Worcester Rowing Club have members who have aspired to the National Rowing Squad and have represented their country. And has seen one of their members rowing in the Olympic Games. Through the outstanding record of the Club, as well as them having the best stretch of rowing water in this part of the country, the City of Worcester has now been designated by the Sports Council as a Centre of Rowing Excellence.

Action from Worcester Rowing Club's Autumn Regatta

Actual extract from the Worcester Rowing Club A.G.M.

Mr. C. H. BIRDECK said that after the lapse of many years he again found himself a guest at the board of the Worcester Rowing Club. It gave him great pleasure to find himself once again connected with the Worcester regatta. (Hear. hear).

In days gone by, almost half a life time since, when the Worcester regatta stood at its very prime, after the last great regatta a procession of boats was formed, and there were no less than eight, eight-oared boats besides a number of four-oared and other boats, extending nearly half a mile. In those days he had seen a larger concourse of people to witness a regatta on Pitchcroft than he had seen at any race or any demonstration in the city.

The results of those splendid contests of former days were almost entirely due to the efforts of their president, Sir Edmund Lechmere (Applause). He (Mr. Birbeck) then hold the humble position of honorary secretary ; and he could assure the company that for several years, if it had not been for the indomitable perseverance of Sir Edmund Lechmere and the pecuniary aid rendered by him, the old Worcester regatta would not have survived.

When he saw before him the splendid trophies won by the crews of his native city, he felt a degree of pride to think that courage, stamina, and pluck still existed as in days gone by, when Worcester was renowned for everything in the shape of athletics. (Applause.) In the days of which he had spoken, on one occasion a large challenge cup and numerous other prizes were offered, and there was every prospect of a most successful regatta.

Unfortunately the curse of this country, betting, was then in existence, and at this regatta betting ran exceedingly high. The Ariels, the Intrepids, and the St. Georges vied with each other as to which should win the championship of the Severn. Betting went on to a great extent, and it was felt by the citizens of Worcester that they would stake every penny upon the success of Sir Edmund Lechmere. he started with every prospect of success,and everybody thought that he had stamina and power to win the race. Sir Edmund rowed like a Trojan, and worked till the whipcords showed themselves in every lineamont of his face. He had gone two-thirds of the distance when he found that there was something wrong and Sir Edmund was defeated by two or three boat lengths. A piece of board had been put on the boat to prevent him winning the race. That damned the Worcester regatta for years.

He was pleased to think that since the regatta had been resuscitated he had not heard of any betting-(hear, hear)-and he hoped he never should. He felt that it was due to their President to tell them that he had been the great supporter and the mainstay of the Worcester regatta.

The Worcester crews had the advantage of one of the finest waters in the kingdom. He hoped that the success which had attended the regatta this year would be an incentive for the future, and that they would have as good a regatta at Worcester as at any place in the United Kingdom He hoped that they would see not only their Worcester crews, but men from all parts of the kingdom where rowing strength existed, so that there should be something to fight for and to win. (Applause.)

The muscle and determination of the Worcester crews would, he believed, not fail again to win splendid trophies. He concurred with the Vice-Chairman's suggestion as to a secretary's prize, and would join in assisting to promote it. No man would be more pleased to see the regatta restored to the position which it hold twenty-five years ago.

Description of First Worcester Regatta written for the Worcester Journal in 1970

THE FIRST WORCESTER REGATTA 135 YEARS AGO

by D. D.Cox, Trustee. and Life member of Worcester R.C.

A crew entered by the village of Kempsey, the mysterious "disappearance" of some of the oars of an eight about to race, the liberal placing of bets on the races. These are some of the interesting facts disclosed by records of the time when the first ever Worcester regatta took place in 1845 and when there were at least three separate City rowing clubs in existence.

In the more leisurely ways of that era the Regatta was a midweek two day event, attracting a large part of the population. The Grand Stand proprietors had specially prepared the top of their building for the ladies, where "Mr. Fish's excellent gossamer band provided the charms of music" and although there were a number of "equipages" on Pitchcroft and "gaily prankt out barges on the river" it was a matter of some concern that the local magistrates had seen fit to prohibit the sale of any intoxicating liquor on the ground. As the local press afterwards remarked of those responsible for the prohibition "they will have learnt from the regatta that it is possible for people to disport innocently and that there is nothing necessarily vicious, even in horse racing".

Worcester Regatta Enclosure c.1900

The present regatta course, which has existed for very many years now, is downstream between Dog and Duck Ferry and the Pedestrian Bridge, but 125 years ago competitors rowed their much heavier boats from Diglis to a point near the Dog and Duck Ferry - upstream. Times of around 20 minutes were recorded for this distance, which nowadays with the lighter racing boats and increasing standards of fitness can be covered in a fraction of this time.

Scullers, pairs, fours and eights took part (not all from organised Clubs), the best race of the first day apparently being between the Worcester Ariel pair, W. Davis and T. Hopkins and two privately entered gentlemen named Lea and Faulkner, which was won by the Worcester boat contrary to general expectation, "three to one having been offered against the winners before -the start, without takers". The Ariel pair went on the following day to win the final, even though their opponents had disposed of their coxswain in order to lighten the boat. In one of the four-oared events, the Harriet (Kempsey) crew were drawn against the Oxford Worcestershire Club (Worcester) but for some unaccountable reason declined to start at the last moment. They rowed well in a later event however.

In another four-oared race on the second day the Oxford Worcestershire boat gained upon a Bewdley crew, bumped them and claimed the race. In true partisan spirit however, a great number of local citizens testified that Bewdley had left their own water to gain the advantage of taking the central arch of Worcester bridge, the fifth (Bridge Street) arch being "blocked up by the Watermen's Church". Bewdley, highly dissatisfied with the subsequent award of the race against them, claimed to have the trophy and served the Stewards with notice not to give up the prize to their competitors.

The premier event of the Regatta was undoubtedly the eightoared race for the Grand Challenge Cup, eventually won by Unity, believed to be another Worcester crew, but not before the seeds had been sown of a bitter controversy which was to rage long after the regatta. In a cheat between Unity and Nondescript (Worcester) two of the oars belonging to the Nondescript eight "disappeared" before the start and as the Unity crew apparently refused to wait, the missing oars were substituted by two smaller ones. The oars which had disappeared were later found "hidden" under a barge. Accusations and counter accusations ensued and in one of the many letters subsequently written to the Editor of the "Worcester Herald" it was remarked that "a more thorough piece of blackguardism and blacklegism never was perpetrated - not even upon the turf" and it was suggested "that all bets laid on the event, other than between gamblers by trade, should be off".

The various challenge trophies and gold and silver presentation prizes for the winning crews far surpassed any of those seen nowadays and it is regrettable that their present whereabouts are unknown. The most valuable would be the Stewards Challenge Cup, the District Cup, the Severn Cup and the Grand Challenge Cup, all of which incorporated reproductions of the Cathedral, Worcester Bridge, the river and rowing scenes. The present Worcester Rowing Club have a detailed description of these first rowing trophies, an indication of their present day value being gleaned from the following description of The Worcester Grand Challenge Cup for Eights, "Open to the World" and valued then at 80 guineas: "a splendid piece of silver plate, on four massive silver feet, representing dolphins, with shells elegantly curled. On the upper part of the feet is richly chased in bold relief the waterlily. On the body is a vine leaf jutting out over a sea shell with, on its front a chased design in bas relief of Worcester Bridge, and in the distance is seen St. Andrew's Spire. To the right are the trees of the Severn embankment; and in the midst the Cathedral. In the river is seen the struggle between the contesting parties in eight-oared boats. On the reverse is engraved "Worcester Regatta Grand Challenge Cup" and surmounting the entire is represented a sailor, bearing a pair of sculls".

Despite the loss of these priceless trophies, which, have been replaced in course of time by other fine, if less ornate pieces, Worcester Regatta attracts crews from all over the British Isles and is still a major City attraction. For very many years now it has been held under the auspices of the successor to those earlier Worcester clubs, the present Worcester Rowing Club.

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